LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Tax season is underway, but some Latino families in the Las Vegas area say they have questions and concerns before getting started — and trust is a central part of the conversation this year.
Organizers at Southern Nevada Tax Assistance say their goal is to help families file safely and correctly. But this year, they say they are seeing something different: hesitation.
Hesitation and distrust on the rise
Nonprofit organization Somos Votantes, which focuses on helping Latinos in the community, says it is hearing from more families who are unsure who they can trust when it comes to filing.
“That’s why Southern Nevada Tax Assistance — they’re a group of IRS-certified volunteers,” said Angel Lazcano.
Somos Votantes held a free filing event Wednesday to connect families with trusted, no-cost help. Volunteers said the stress of tax season is something many in the community have long felt.
“Personally, growing up, I’ve always heard how much, how stressful it is around this time of year, especially getting closer and closer to tax day,” one volunteer said.
Ghost preparers a recurring threat
That concern is not new. Connie Buckley, founder of Nevada Tax Assistance, said every year scammers known as ghost preparers target people who may not fully understand the filing process or whose first language may not be English.
“They create fraudulent tax returns. People don’t know what to expect on their taxes, so they don’t know that it’s wrong. And then two or three years later, the IRS sends them a letter that says something’s not right here,” Buckley said.
Fears about sharing personal information
For many Latino families, concerns this year go beyond scams, with some expressing fears about sharing personal information when filing.
Buckley addressed those concerns directly. “The recommendation always is — let me put it this way — when you get your tax forms from your employer, like the W-2s, the 1099s, those are also transmitted to the IRS. So the IRS knows that you made money and they are expecting to see your tax return to reconcile that,” she said.
Buckley also warned that choosing not to file can create larger problems. “If you owe taxes, there are a lot of penalties that they will assess against you, against what you owe. And now you’ve got yourself into an even bigger hole than you would have been in if you just filed your taxes when they were due,” she said.
Organizers say that no matter a person’s status, filing taxes remains important, and they want to make sure families can do it safely. Free tax filing help is available across the Las Vegas Valley for those who need it.
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